Pet Health

August 8, 2017

It's almost fair time again!!! Make sure to visit the Westmoreland Fair Aug. 18th-26th. Be sure to stop by all the barns and support the amazing youth that have been working on their projects all year. Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn...that's what the fair is all about!!

July 22, 2017

A new welfare bill was just past through the state government in Harrisburg. There are many changes that may affect many companion and livestock owners. As these changes come forward we will do our best to inform you of the new policies. Dr. Andy had a part, along with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, in reviewing the bill and making amendments that the Veterinary community supported or opposed. If you have any questions concerning the new changes please contact us at the office and Dr. Andy will help clear up some confusion.
Here is one big change that has happened. If you or anyone you know has dogs tethered outside please read and take note of the new regulations. Without knowing you could be guilty of animal welfare violations which are now coming with much steeper penalties.

July 10, 2017

Corn is ready !!! We will begin sales Wednesday from 10am - 6pm. Make sure everyone stops down! We will be set up at Palombo's bar , and on rt. 30 across from laurel nursery. We will be in Indiana shortly !

May 6, 2017

Great day for pregnancy checking a few of our cows! Thanks to Dr. Andy Stas and his awesome assistant Brittany from Lakeview Animal Clinic in Latrobe and our helpers for making things go smoothly!
Happy cows make happy people:) Only one cow was not pregnant this time which is great news! These babies help pay the bills.

April 28, 2017

BUYER BEWARE!!! With the increasing resources for buying online pet medications there has been a HUGE increase in fake / counterfeit products. This is especially true for flea/tick medications. When buying online please be sure that the source is reputable and reliable. There are many fakes out there that can be ineffective or even dangerous to your pets. Check out the link below for tips on buying online.
PS Always remember that all the products that we recommend are kept in stock at the office. We can assure you that they are safe and effective at competitive prices! Another trusted source would be our online store located at lakeviewanimalclinicpa.com

If you’ve ever searched online for prescription pet medicines, you’ve likely seen similar eye-catching, attention-grabbing claims. They sound convincing, promising convenience and lower prices, but are these claims always true?

April 10, 2017

Spring has finically sprung!! We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather. Unfortunately, with the warm weather comes a host of concerns for many of our four-legged companions!! Of particular concern is all the creepy, crawly things that come out in huge numbers...ticks, fleas, mites, and intestinal parasites! Make sure you are prepared and have a prevention plan.
For all of our horse owners out there spring is a great time to start working with your veterinarian to establish a plan for deworming and treating intestinal parasites. Remember that we NO LONGER RECOMMEND rotational deworming and that practice has led to many parasites become resistant to the drugs we use to treat parasites! Check out this great resource to understand more about the worms and the drugs used to treat them. We now are recommending checking fecal samples periodically throughout the year to identify the specific parasites and the level with in each horse. Many horses might only need dewormed once or twice a year!! Please contact us if you have any questions or want to establish a strategic deworming protocol on your farm.

Learn about common equine parasites, as well as the mechanisms and effects of common deworming compounds.

March 18, 2017

**WARNING DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET** IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS VIDEO PLEASE READ OUR STATEMENT BELOW.
We have recently seen this video circulating and it has been causing some concern and inquires into animal vaccination protocols and procedures. Though we do not know the context of this video or the expertise of the featured veterinarian but many of the statements that are made are misleading and false.
As for the “dangers” of vaccines, his claims are not supported by any valid scientific evidence that would suggest that our core vaccines have any long-term or deadly adverse effects. Vaccines are in no way killing thousands of dogs. The statement that the same amount of vaccine is given no matter what the size of dog is true but the information that is not expressed is that vaccines (just like in humans) are NOT dose and weight dependent like many other drugs. Vaccines are specifically designed to have an exact amount of antigen to stimulate an appropriate immune response no matter what the size of the animal. To explain further, the antigen is the small particles of the virus or bacteria that is present in the vaccine to the body and immune system will recognize the bad bug and build up antibodies / immunity to that disease. It requires a certain amount of antigen to properly stimulate the immune system. This amount is the same no matter what the size of the animal. If we were to give smaller doses of the vaccine, then we would not be given the adequate amount of antigen to stimulate an immune response and the dog would be left unprotected. Recently, manufactures have been able to concentrate the amount of antigen down into smaller doses. At Lakeview, we have used these 1/2cc vaccines for the last few years and have seen very few reactions or issues of any kind.
The video talks about vaccine reactions leading to the death of thousands of dogs. This is just not true. Even though vaccine reactions do occur they are quite rare and most them are mild and can be easily treated with simple antihistamines. Recent research estimates mild reactions occur in about 1 and 1,000 animals and more severe reactions in 1 and 10-30,000. Most reactions occur due to the carrier products in the vaccines and not the antigen itself. The carrier products are present to properly deliver the antigen to the immune system to be recognized and build an immune response. Specifically, bovine albumin is most often the culprit. Bovine albumin is a common component in both human and animal vaccines. The idea is that the foreign substance stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies but if the body’s response is to strong then side-effects (reactions) can occur in rare cases. In the majority of animal’s, the immune response is appropriate to protect the animal when exposed to the disease but not cause any harm to any body system.
The last thing I will touch on is the statement that one rabies vaccine lasts the life of the animal. Based on years of research this is simply not true and this idea could potentially have severe public health concerns. Most research would say that the rabies vaccination will stimulate immunity and protection for 3-5yrs in the typical dog but it can be variable for individual animals. Because rabies is a deadly and dangerous disease that WILL kill all animals and humans that become infected, the veterinary community is cautious to ensure that all animals are well protected in order to maintain our safety and the health of our pets. It may be true that in some dogs the protection from the vaccine can last many years. However, to determine the protection from a vaccine, blood titer levels have to be determined. These titer levels give us a sense of the number of circulating antibodies to a disease. This is something that is commonly done in human medicine but not performed as often in veterinary medicine. It is not as common in veterinary medicine for a few reasons. First, there are not available tests for all of the core vaccines (specific diseases) that are given. Secondly, there is a concerning lack of research showing exactly what the needed titer levels are so that the animal is fully protected from infection. Therefore, we often air on the side of caution and recommend the vaccine schedule that we do.
PHEW that was a long one!! I will step off my soap box for now. As always, if you ever have any questions or concerns pertaining to any of our protocols please do not hesitate to ask.

Over-vaccinating and the overdosing of pet vaccines has become a global issue. 5 lbs dogs are receiving the same dose of the rabies vaccine as 150 lbs Great Danes, and vets are now witnessing terrible side effects.

March 6, 2017

TO VIEW FULL GRAPHIC PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
As horse owners schedule spring veterinary appointments, your vet will administer core vaccinations—vaccines considered important for all horses to receive annually regardless of geographical location. Core vaccinations protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, are virulent and highly contagious, and pose a risk of severe disease.
Download/view chart here: https://www.scribd.com/document/341102532/AAEP-Core-Vaccinations-for-Adult-Horses#
Read more about core vaccinations for adult horses here: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines

February 26, 2017

Interested in stocking up with some locally-grown, grass fed Angus beef? Check out Friendship Farms!! We can definitely vouch for the exceptional care and health of their cattle 😉

We are trying something new here at Friendship Farms! We are now offering boxes of beef...100# of our delicious grass fed Angus beef for only $5.50/#. The 100# includes lots of hamburger, stew, steaks and roasts. Check out the video and flyers in this post as well. We hope this will make buying our beef in bulk an easier and less confusing process!Please contact us for more information or to order yours.
Thanks!!
The Costello family.

February 22, 2017

Unfortunately, western Pennsylvania is a hot bed for leptospirosis as it is spread by various other wild animals, including deer, as well as rats and mice. Make sure your pets are up-to-date on vaccines, including leptospirosis, before spring officially hits!!

The warm weather in some parts of the country has been driving people outdoors, often with their pets in tow. Remember that your dog could contract leptospirosis by drinking from puddles, lakes or other bodies of water, licking wet paws, or getting their mouth on a rodent. Ask your veterinarian about the potential risk of lepto according to where you live and your dog's lifestyle. It's possible your vet will recommend a vaccine to prevent the disease. Visit http://bit.ly/2m7Ugbc for more information about leptospirosis.

January 31, 2017

Amazing, close-to-home, story showing the amazing advancements veterinary medicine is making everyday! Way to go PVSEC and UPMC.

Last September in Littleton, Colo., Anchor achieved expert status in “water work,” with her impressive range of canine skills to rescue distressed humans in water. Yet, during those trials, the athletic, well-trained and boldly majestic dog startled everyone when she fell off the boat. Only 1 perce...

January 24, 2017

Not only can winter be hard on our small animal friends but it also presents many difficulties for our aged and geriatric horses. This time of year Dr. Andrew Stas deals with a lot of conditions affecting older horses including everything from arthritis, dental disease, difficulty keeping weight on, too multiple metabolic conditions. Check out this great informational video featuring Dr. Kristen Near of Fairhill Race Track.
Ps. Dr. Stas and Dr. Near studied together at University of Pennsylvania and also completed a internship together at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Great job Dr. Near!!

January 24, 2017

So it looks like the end of this week we may start to see what resembles a Pennsylvania winter! Check out some of great tips on keeping pet safe this winter. Especially important for any furry companions that live outside.

January 5, 2017

The most dangerous pet chew ever created: Rawhide!
Full writeup on rawhide: http://bit.ly/2ichsiC

December 18, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!
Just remember during all the special festivities of the holidays are wonderful BUT can have hidden dangers from all our furry companions!! Make sure to keep all safe and happy this season!!

IF YOU HAVE A SALT DOUGH ORNAMENT ON YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE PLEASE READ!!
The amount of salt contained in one ornament is enough to cause a severe toxicity and even death. The salty taste of the dough will encourage curious dogs and cats to nibble on them causing the the severe toxicity. If you have any on your tree please make sure they are out of reach from any pets and they have ZERO chance of getting ahold of one.

December 6, 2016

Is your dog current on its canine distemper vaccine? Your dog could get the disease from wild animals or other dogs, and a vaccine is the best way to prevent infection.

November 14, 2016

Nothing better than pregnancy checking a great group of cows on a beautiful afternoon at a well managed farm! If you haven't checked out Friendship Farms and their pasture-raised beef, all natural bakery, or native plant nursery then you are missing out!!

This is from this past Thursday. Dr. Andy Stas and his assistant Brittany from Lakeview Animal Clinic paid us a visit to pregnancy check about 51 of our moms. The sun was out and we had a great team of helpers so the day went well! We had a majority of ladies with babies coming next spring...could have been a little better but overall was a good day!

October 26, 2016

Please feel free to share this information. Logan Family Farms is offering a $10,000.00 reward for Information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for vandalizing a Tractor and Combine parked near Mammoth Park early morning October 23, 2016. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall 724-832-5243 with any details. We want to thank everyone for their support and positive messages we have received in regards to this incident.